The World Cup ended for the United States with a 2-1 defeat to Ghana, the same way it ended four years ago. And despite the fact that the team won its group for the first time ever, and dragged soccer into the mainstream back home, in the end it was undone by all the same frailties it had shown on the road to South Africa.

A penchant for giving up early goals. A lack of a partner in the middle for Michael Bradley. A dearth of game-winners up front. And worst of all, most damning in any championship in any sport, a porous defense. All four of those Achilles Heels were ripped open by Ghana, and the U.S. paid dearly.

“It’s a stinging, tough defeat. We knew Ghana was a good team, and yet tonight we didn’t get the job done,” said coach Bob Bradley, whose $500,000/year contract expires after December. Will he be back? Despite thrilling rallies against Slovenia and Algeria, and those ripping Bradley after yesterday, the fact us this roster has questions that need answering and flaws that need fixing.

Finding a central midfield partner for Michael Bradley has been an ongoing issue. Bob Bradley started Rico Clark vs. England, and his former MetroStar player promptly gave up Steven Gerrard’s 4th-minute goal.

Bradley turned to technical Jose Torres vs. Slovenia, and the U.S. fell behind 2-0 before he called on Maurice Edu, who helped lead a two-goal rally and had a potential winner incorrectly waved off. Clark got the nod yesterday, and his giveaway to Kwadwo Asamoah led to Kevin Prince-Boateng’s 5th-minute score.

“It wasn’t the best performance for me. I had good moments, but unfortunately one of my bad moments led to a counter attack and to a goal. A player of my caliber and my experience should not be making those mistakes,” said Clark.

“I kind of got the ball stuck in my feet. I got caught in my decision making and didn’t react fast enough. The guy stole the ball and it’s unfortunate because it led to a goal. I feel like I let my team down and I take full responsibility on that goal.”

Starting Clark over Edu or Benny Feilhaber — who was, to borrow a hockey term, a plus-four at the World Cup — is a tactical decision that will be much-scrutinized in a tournament that saw Bradley make very few other missteps.

“(Yesterday) was a product of a giveaway in the midfield….We certainly hurt ourselves with that too many times,” said Bradley. “As a coach I’ll always look back on decisions. You have different things that you consider. We have confidence in all our players, and it is what it is at this point.”

It was the eighth time in their last 22 games they’d allowed a goal within the first 15 minutes — and this time there was no comeback.

“Unfortunately you can only do that for so long. Eventually you’re going to pay. We were a little naïve, and at this level you can’t do that. It’s frustrating. It just (stinks),” said Landon Donovan. “Soccer’s a cruel game sometimes. One minute you’re on top of the world, the next you’re at the bottom of the mountain.”

Not at the bottom, after winning their group for the first time, it just feels that way. Donovan equalized with a 62nd-minute PK, but the U.S. didn’t get a goal from a forward in South Africa, and clearly lacks game-winners up front.

Andre Ayew put a ball over the top that Asamoah Gyan ran onto, splitting Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit, and volleying a blast past GK Tim Howard. The team had shown defensive frailties even with CB Oguchi Onyewu, but that came home to roost.